Perennial erect herb, up to 4m tall glabrous. Leaves petiolate, triangular hastate to sagitattate, 30x20 cm. Infloeescencemuch branched, paniculate. Flowers in fascicles, dark brown, tepals up to 0.4 cm long. Fruit trigonos with strongly hooked teeth.

Roots are used to treat the abscesses, or abdominal pains caused by intestinal worms. The freshly crushed leaves are stuffed to cure sor throat. In Rwanda, the root are used  against sciatica and malaria, the tubers against influenza and the rhizome  against kwashiorkor.

Consummed as vegetables.